Title 12. Baltimore City — Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
Statutes in effect as of October 1, 2026.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1501 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1501LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 2 (“Issuance or Denial of Local Licenses”) of Division I of this article apply in the City without exception or variation:
(1)
§�4–205�(“Chain store, supermarket, or discount house”);
(2)
§�4–206�(“Limitations on retail sales floor space”);
(3)
§�4–207�(“Licenses issued to minors”);
(4)
§�4–209�(“Hearing”);
(5)
§�4–210�(“Approval or denial of license application”);
(6)
§�4–211�(“License forms; effective date; expiration”);
(7)
§�4–212�(“License not property”); and
(8)
§�4–213�(“Replacement licenses”).
(b)
Section 4–214 (“Waiting periods after denial of license applications”) of Division I of this article does not apply in the City and is superseded by § 12–1507 of this subtitle.
(c)
The following sections of Title 4, Subtitle 2 (“Issuance or Denial of Local Licenses”) of Division I of this article apply in the City:
(1)
§�4–202�(“Authority of local licensing boards”), subject to §§ 12–1502 and 12–1503 of this subtitle;
(2)
§�4–203�(“Prohibition against issuing multiple licenses to individual or for use of entity”), subject to §§ 12–1504 and 12–1505 of this subtitle and Subtitle 13, Part III and Subtitle 16, Part II of this title;
(3)
§�4–204�(“Prohibition against issuing multiple licenses for same premises”), subject to § 12–1505 of this subtitle and Subtitle 13, Part III of this title; and
(4)
§�4–208�(“Notice of license application required”), subject to § 12–1506 of this subtitle.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1502 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1502LinkCopy Citation
(a)
On approving a license application, the Board shall present a certificate of approval for licensure to the Director of Finance.
(b)
The Board may not issue a license until it receives clearance from the Director of Finance that all personal property taxes due to the City or the State are paid.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1503 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1503LinkCopy Citation
The Board may not issue a Class A or Class D beer license, beer and light wine license, or beer, wine, and liquor license to a person that holds an out–of–state alcoholic beverages license.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1504 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1504LinkCopy Citation
A person may not have an interest in more than one license issued by the Board, regardless of whether that interest is held or controlled by direct or indirect ownership, stock ownership, interlocking directors or interlocking stock ownership, franchise operation, chain store operation, or any other direct or indirect manner.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1505 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1505LinkCopy Citation
Multiple licenses may be issued for the same premises or to an individual for the use of that individual, a partnership, a corporation, an unincorporated association, or a limited liability company if:
(1)
the licenses are Class D beer or Class D beer and light wine licenses; and
(2)
each premises is a bowling establishment that has at least 30 lanes with automatic pinsetters.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1506 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1506LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The notice of license application required under § 4–208 of this article shall be published in two newspapers of general circulation in the City.
(b)
(1)
This subsection applies to an application for a new license, a change in the class of a license, a request for live entertainment on the licensed premises, and an extension of the licensed premises.
(2)
In addition to the newspaper notice required under § 4–208 of this article, the Board shall post a suitable notice in a conspicuous place at the location described in the application for at least 10 days before holding a hearing on the application.
(3)
A notice under this subsection shall state the class of license for which application is made and the date, time, and place set by the Board for an application hearing.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1507 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1507LinkCopy Citation
(a)
Except as provided in subsection (b) of this section, if an application for a license is denied, the Board may not issue the same class of license to the same applicant or for the same location for 6 months after the denial.
(b)
The restriction against the issuance of a license for the same location does not apply if the Board decides that the denial was directed against the applicant and not against the location.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1508 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1508LinkCopy Citation
(a)
(1)
In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2)
(i)
“Owners of real or leasehold property” includes holders of leasehold improvements subject to a ground rent, the City, and the State.
(ii)
“Owners of real or leasehold property” does not include the owner of the location described in the application.
(3)
“Tenant” means an individual who rents a single–family dwelling and is residing there for at least 1 year immediately before the application hearing.
(b)
A license application shall be denied if:
(1)
more than 50% of the owners of real or leasehold property within 200 feet of the location described in the application oppose the issuing of the license; or
(2)
more than 50% of those owners and tenants, in combination, of real or leasehold property located within 200 feet of the location described in the application oppose the issuing of the license.
(c)
(1)
If an owner of a dwelling participates as a protestant or proponent of the application, the owner and the tenant of the dwelling shall each have one–half vote.
(2)
If property is rented jointly and one tenant appears in person at the hearing as a protestant, the other tenants’ protest may be recorded by affidavit.
(d)
(1)
If the City or the State owns more than one building within 200 feet of the location described in the application, protest may be made solely for the building that is closest to the location described in the application.
(2)
The City or the State may protest through an authorized representative of the Mayor and City Council.
Md. Code Ann., Alco. Bev. § 12-1509 (2026)
Title 12. Baltimore City
Subtitle 15. Issuance or Denial of Licenses
§ 12–1509LinkCopy Citation
(a)
The Board:
(1)
may not require that protests against the issuance of a license be accompanied by an abstract of title from the land records of the City substantiating the protestants’ ownership of the real or leasehold property; but
(2)
may require that a qualified person familiar with the land records of the City appear at the hearing and testify as to who is the holder of full legal title as shown by the land records.
(b)
If an owner of property that is owned jointly appears in person at the hearing as a protestant, the other owners’ protest may be recorded by an affidavit.
(c)
On request, the Board shall provide an affidavit form to any person who claims to be a protestant.